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T.J. Lane, Chardon High School Shooting Suspect, Was Described As Outcast

First Posted: 02/28/2012 10:41 am Updated: 02/29/2012 7:01 pm

The 17 year old suspected of killing two high school students and wounding three others in a shooting yesterday in Ohio was described as a loner by students and his lawyer.

Thomas "T.J." Lane, who is expected to be arraigned Tuesday for the rampage at Chardon High School, came from a violent family. His father was arrested numerous times for abusing women, including Lane's mother, according to court records cited by The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Students say that Lane was shy and targeted by bullies. Although the shooting took place at 7:30 a.m. in the Chardon High cafeteria, Lane was enrolled at Lake Academy Alternative School, an institution for "at risk" youths, according to CNN.

An eerie poem that Lane wrote on Facebook in December received extra attention in light of Monday's violence.

"In a quaint lonely town, sits a man with a frown. No job. No family. No crown. His luck had run out. Lost and alone," Lane wrote in the post that has since been deleted.

"So, to the castle he proceeds, like an ominous breeze through the trees. 'Stay back!' The Guards screamed as they were thrown to their knees. 'Oh God, have mercy, please!'"

(Read the full post on The Daily Beast).

Gregg Jantz, a psychologist and mental health author from Seattle, says that Lane's Facebook post from December should have triggered a red flag with any adult who saw it.

"That kind of writing is warning sign of an impending disaster," Jantz told The Huffington Post. "We don't need anything more. He was forecasting his struggles right there."

But Lane was enrolled in the school for troubled students, suggesting that school officials had previously become concerned by his behavior.

"The bottom line is a depressed teenager who may be acting out is especially hard to predict," Jantz said to Huff Post.

FBI agents declined to say if they've identified a motive. On Monday, police searched his home to comb through computer files, phone records and other evidence related to planning the attack.

T.J. LANE FACEBOOK PHOTOS: (Story Continues Below)

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Witnesses said that Lane appeared to target a table of five boys. One of the victims was a teen who reportedly dated a girl that used to go out with Lane. She broke his heart, friends said, when she broke up with him, according to The Plain Dealer.

In the burst of gunfire Daniel Parmertor was killed and Russell King Jr. was later declared brain dead. It started a panic that put the school of 1,100 students on lockdown. A teacher chased the shooter from the building and he later turned himself in to police. Classes were canceled for Tuesday.

Because Lane is a minor, his identity was not immediately revealed, but a lawyer representing him disclosed his name when issuing a statement from his family.

"The family is devastated by this most recent event. They want to give their most heartfelt and sincere condolences to the family of the young man who passed and their continuing prayers are with all those who were injured," attorney Bob Farinacci said to WKYC. This is something that could never have been predicted.

Farinacc said Lane is a sophomore with "pretty impressive" grades who expected to graduate in May. He also said Lane "pretty much sticks to himself but does have some friends," but had never been in trouble.

To those that knew him, Lane rarely opened up about the tumult that tore at his personal life.

PHOTOS: CHARDON HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING (Story Continues Below)

  • Chardon High School Shooting

    Students leave with parents from Maple Elementary School after a shooting at Chardon High School Monday. Students assembled at Maple Elementary School after a shooting took place at the high school. A gunman opened fire inside the high school's cafeteria at the start of the school day, killing three students and wounding two others, officials said. A suspect is in custody. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

  • Ohio Shooting

    Community members attend a during a prayer service for victims of a school shooting at Chardon Assembly of God in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the Chardon High School's cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, killing three students and wounding two others.

  • Demetrius Hewlin

    Demetrius Hewlin, a junior, was one of three students taken by helicopter to a local hospital following the shooting. He died. <em>Photo provided via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Demetrius-Hewlin/115955785195928?sk=wall" target="_hplink">Facebook</a> tribute. </em>

  • Danny Parmertor

    Danny Parmertor, 16, a junior, was shot along with several classmates while waiting for a bus. Parmertor was airlifted to a hospital and died shortly after. <em>Photo provided via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Danny-Parmertor/121146101345306" target="_hplink">Facebook</a> tribute.</em>

  • Russell King

    Russell King Jr., 17, was pronounced brain dead shortly after the shooting and died the next day. <em>Photo provide via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Russell-King/385026981508707" target="_hplink">Facebook</a> tribute. </em>

  • Ohio High School Shooting

    A FBI agent speaks with people in front of Chardon High School where a shooting took place on Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman, believed to be a student, opened fire inside the high school cafeteria, immediately killing three students and wounding two others.

  • Ohio Shooting

    Flags fly at half staff in front of the town hall in Chardon, Ohio for the victims of an early morning school shooting on Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the high school's cafeteria at the start of the school day, killing three students and wounding two others.

  • TJ Lane

    This February 27, 2012 photograph shows a picture of Chardon High School shooter T.J. Lane posing on his Facebook page. Lane, opened fire with a handgun on a group of fellow students at Chardon High shortly after the start of the school day on Monday, killing three and wounding two others.

  • Ohio Shooting

    An Ohio Highway Patrol helicopter takes off from the rear of Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the high school's cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, killing three students and wounding two others, officials said.

  • Ohio School Shooting: Prayer Service

    Alissa Sully, 17, hugs a friend before a prayer service for victims of a school shooting at Chardon Assembly of God in Chardon, Ohio Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the high school's cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, killing three students and wounding two others. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

  • Ohio School Shooting

    A woman and her children walk down a back street near Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the high school's cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, killing three students and wounding two others, officials said. Special Agent Vicki Anderson said Monday the shooter was taken into custody near his car about half a mile (one kilometer) away from the high school. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

  • Four Students Injured, Two Killed In Ohio High School Shooting

    A sign in front of Chardon High School where a shooting took place on Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman, believed to be a student, opened fire inside the high school cafeteria, immediately killing one student and wounding two others. Two others later died from the injuries.

  • Ohio School Shooting: Press Conference

    Chardon School Superintendant Joe Bergant speaks to the media during a press conference at Chardon High School where a shooting took place on Feb. 27, 2012 in Chardon, Ohio. A gunman, believed to be a student, opened fire inside the high school cafeteria, killing three students and wounding two others.

  • Ohio High School Shooting

    Doug Gasper, a ninth-grader at Chardon High School, is hugged by his mother, Sandy, as they leave Maple Elementary School Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, in Chardon, Ohio. Students assembled at Maple Elementary School after a shooting took place at the high school. A gunman opened fire inside the high school's cafeteria at the start of the school day, killing three students and wounding two others, officials said. A suspect is in custody. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

  • Ohio High School Shooting: Police Search

    Investigative agents search a home several miles from the shooting Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, in Chardon, Ohio. A gunman opened fire inside a high school cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, immediately killing three students and wounding two others, authorities said. A suspect believed to be a student was arrested a short distance away. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

  • Ohio High School Shooting: Evidence Search

    FBI and local police investigators search for evidence in a rural area of Chardon Township, Ohio Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the Chardon High School cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, killing three students and wounding two others, officials said. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

  • Ohio High School Shooting: Prayer Service

    Rev. Jeff Johnson, left, and Bill Mullett lead prayers during a service for victims of a school shooting at Chardon Assembly of God in Chardon, Ohio Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the high school's cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, killing three students and wounding two others. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

  • Ohio High School Shooting: Press Conference

    Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland addresses the media regarding an early morning shooting at Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio Monday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the school's cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, killing three students and wounding two others. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

  • OHIO SCHOOL SHOOTING

    Map locates Chardon, Ohio, site of a school shooting

  • Search For Ohio High School Shooter

    A deputy sheriff searches a wooded area with his gun drawn several miles from Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the high school cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, killing three students and wounding two others, authorities said. A suspect believed to be a student was arrested a short distance away. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

  • Ohio Shooting

    A group of students and parents pray for victims of a school shooting on the square in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 28, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the Chardon High School cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday. Three of the victims have died and two others remain wounded.

  • Ohio Shooting

    A group of students and parents pray for victims of a school shooting on the square in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 28, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside the Chardon High School cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday. Three of the victims have died and two others remain wounded.

  • TJ Lane

    T.J. Lane, a suspect in Monday's shooting of five students at Chardon High School is taken into juvenile court by Geauga County deputies in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 28, 2012. Three of the five students wounded in the attacks have since died.

  • Candlelight Vigil

    Students and those in the community embrace one another as they hold a candlelight vigil at St Mary's of the Assumption Church in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 28, 2012.

  • Candlelight Vigil

    Students and those in the community embrace one another as they hold a candlelight vigil at St Mary's of the Assumption Church in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 28, 2012.

  • Candlelight Vigil

    Students and those in the community embrace one another as they hold a candlelight vigil at St Mary's of the Assumption Church in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 28, 2012.

  • Candlelight Vigil

    Students and those in the community embrace one another as they hold a candlelight vigil at St Mary's of the Assumption Church in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 28, 2012.

  • Candlelight Vigil

    Students and those in the community embrace one another as they hold a candlelight vigil at St Mary's of the Assumption Church in Chardon, Ohio on Feb. 28, 2012.

  • Candleight Vigil

    Students and those in the community embrace one another as they hold a candlelight vigil at St Mary's of the Assumption Church on February 28, 2012 in Chardon, Ohio. Gunman and student TJ Lane opened fire inside the Chardon High School cafeteria that left 3 students dead and two injured.

  • Red Ribbon

    Heidi Marks finishes tying a red ribbon around the tree in front of her home outside Chardon High School, where her son David, 17, is a student in Chardon, Ohio on February 28, 2012. Gunman and student TJ Lane opened fire inside the Chardon High School cafeteria that left 3 students dead and two injured.

  • TJ Lane

    T. J. Lane, center, is led from Juvenile Court in Chardon, Ohio Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. Lane, 17, admitted taking a .22-caliber pistol to Chardon High School Monday, along with a knife, and firing 10 shots at a group of students sitting at a cafeteria table Monday morning, Prosecutor David Joyce said.

  • Danny Parmertor

    Danny Parmertor, 16, a junior, was shot along with several classmates while waiting for a bus. Parmertor was airlifted to a hospital and died shortly after. <em>Photo provided via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Danny-Parmertor/121146101345306" target="_hplink">Facebook</a> tribute.</em>

  • Chardon High School

    Two students hug on the town square in Chardon, Ohio, on March 1, before marching to the high school to honor the three students who were killed in a shooting there Monday.

  • Chardon High School

    Students and parents march to the high school in Chardon, Ohio on March 1, 2012, to honor the three students who were killed in a shooting there Monday.

  • Chardon High School

    Hundreds of students and parents march to the Chardon High Schooll in Chardon, Ohio on March 1, 2012 to honor the three students who were killed in a shooting there Monday.

  • Chardon High School

    A tribute to the victims of a shooting at the high school Monday, is displayed in the town square in Chardon, Ohio on March 1, 2012.

  • Chardon High School

    Two students hug before hundreds of students and parents march to the high school in Chardon, Ohio on March 1, 2012, to honor the three students who were killed in a shooting there Monday.

  • Chardon High School

    Assistant football coach Frank Hall talks to the media during a news-conference on March 1, 2012, in Chardon, Ohio. Three students were killed by a gunman Monday at Chardon High School. Hall chased the gunman out of the building.

  • Chardon High School

    Hundreds of students and parents march to Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio, on March 1, 2012, to honor the three students who were killed in a shooting there Monday.

  • Chardon High School

    Residents of Chardon, Ohio, applaud as hundreds of students and parents march to the high school in Chardon on March 1, 2012, to honor the three students who were killed in a shooting there Monday.

  • Daniel Permertor

    People line up outside of Monreal Funeral Home for calling hours for Daniel Permertor on March 2, 2012, in Eastlake, Ohio. Parmertor and two others were fatally shot Monday at Chardon High School. Hundreds showed up for his wake at Monreal Funeral Home in Eastlake on Friday, the same day students returned to classes.

Lane's parents are divorced and he lived with his grandparents, reports said. But in the mid-1990s, his mom and dad were arrested for fighting with each other.

His father, Thomas Lane Jr., has a long rap sheet, according to TV station WEWS. In 2002, he was charged with attempted murder, assault and kidnapping, among other charges. The murder charge was dismissed and the kidnapping count reduced later. Under a plea deal he was sentenced to four years in prison.

The Plain Dealer reported that Lane was busted for holding a woman's head under water and hitting her head against a wall, though she later asked for authorities to let him out early from prison.

UPDATE: The death toll rose to three people after the publication of this story.

Related on HuffPost:

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The 17 year old suspected of killing two high school students and wounding three others in a shooting yesterday in Ohio was described as a loner by students and his lawyer. Thomas "T.J." Lane, who ...
The 17 year old suspected of killing two high school students and wounding three others in a shooting yesterday in Ohio was described as a loner by students and his lawyer. Thomas "T.J." Lane, who ...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
cruzing9382
I love it when we're crusin' together
12:01 PM on 05/25/2012
"Gregg Jantz, a psychologist and mental health author from Seattle, says that Lane's Facebook post from December should have triggered a red flag with any adult who saw it." That's easy to say from a psycologist point of view and the hind sight of what occured. I just read his FB page and was struck by his sheer writing talent. It would not have alarmed me if I didn't know what subsequently happened. Stephan King probably wrote stuff like this when he was a kid. It is not that clear an indicator of a tragedy about to happen Hind sight is 20/20. What is clear about this case is that bullying needs to be taken much more seriously. People cry and say "what a shame" when a victim of bullying commits suicide. Here is the otherside of the bullying coin when the victim, in his dispair, retaliates against his abusers. If adults and authorities took bullying more seriously and took action to eradicated it, both types of tragedies could be prevented.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Abelardo Perez
Obama 2012? Gotta be more progressive...
01:09 AM on 03/07/2012
"bullied" "outcast" "from violent home"....none of that reasons such behavior. this kid is a psychopath and should be institutionalized
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
cruzing9382
I love it when we're crusin' together
12:12 PM on 05/25/2012
This is a bullied/abused child whom no one helped, driven to commit a desperate act. This is why laws need to be passed to protect victims of bullying. Bullies need to get more than a slap on the wrist like Ravi, the Rutgers student, who drove his room mate to suicide. Otherwise, which has happened before and will happen again, a victim of bullying may seek their own justice, despite the consequences as in this case. Saying he is a psychopath is a "cop out" to avoid looking at the REAL problem and motivating factors that lead to these types of tragedies.
06:01 PM on 03/06/2012
South Bend says This is another reason some people like to play the race card.Which dosnt help White or Black children.Shame on you.Now this is also a bully tactic.This had nothing to do with race ,Two white and one Black.So leave the race card,What have you got against Black and white children getting along.Dont make it into what its not.
08:18 PM on 03/04/2012
South Bend says this is not for me.Good by I wont bother you anymore with my thoughts of comments cause you deny freedom of speach.Freedom to even think and express your feeling.I didnt say you have to beleave what I feel.Its free thought ,free will.
08:08 PM on 03/04/2012
South Bend you mean I cant even speak the name of GOD.I will pray for you.
08:04 PM on 03/04/2012
Southy Bend I beleave Government is not to dictate reliegion .But I beleave school should not be able to deny students free to even just comment the name of GOD or stop them from saying grace at thier lunch.I think this sends the wrong message to children that GOD should not be in thier mind.And GOD has no place in America.After all GOD is love not to kill your fellow students.Schools prevent students at graduation to say they credit GOD for thier being able to graduate through hard times.The student is saying what he thinks.I dont think schools should create hatred for GODS name I think if this boy new GOD he wouldnt have killed his fellow stundents and this is happening thru out American schools.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Susan Shaffer
tell me from the beginning
10:21 PM on 03/04/2012
question!
where did you go to school?
could you say prayers?
05:19 PM on 03/05/2012
To Susan,South Bend Im 76 years old,Retired Military.And let me tell you yes we could pray in school every morning.The teacher lead the prayer.This boy needed help by our society not to be called an outcast.Of course people like you dont understand to help your fellow American.The society now has a problem,its all about me or I.I came from a broken home my father came home drunk all the time.Beat Mom and us kids ,He died on skidrow street in Chicago as a bum.Our society was much differant we cared ,people helped me.Instood of branding troubled kids help them ,this kid , as you called outcast could probably stood someone to pray with and for him.Ill bet his home was not as nice as yours with loving parants.Dont get me wrong this killing was terrable and it makes me sad.But I also blame our society.Ill put it this way we didnt kill eachother when i went to school.So do the math kids need God back in school.I credit GOD I didnt turn out the same way.This is happening throughout the American schools not just Chardon,so once more do the math.They need help not name calling.
06:04 AM on 03/03/2012
Why are you people making excuses for this murderer ...excuses like "he was bullied and he came from a violent home......."

I don't care what kind of home he came from ...it doesn't give him the right to KILL PEOPLE.....
He look like a SICK young man on the photos.....IT's his parents fault not getting him HELP....I BLAME the parents......
08:53 PM on 03/05/2012
South Bend toShellfisch789 If understood I didnt say he had the right to kill,What Im saying is I think this might have been prevented if schools would teach good morals,As I stated this is happening through out America and that all children donot have good moral parents but if our society taught something other then sex and how to get away with it.Oh by the way I have noticed sence teachers teach more studants are having sex with thier teachers and more children are having children.Wouldnt you think instood of sex,to teach a class on morals?Also just maybe schools can have a influance on a children to stop the killing.I didnot make an excuse for him.I was giving an example or maybe we as a society could stop this throughout America.The proper teaching can create good moral enter thoughts in a child.But alot of authority has been taken away from the parants to disapline thier child under threat of jail time.You cant exspect children to do right without moral teaching.The big problem our society wont admit it and to correct the problem.This is why I blame today society we should set the example.TV programs also makes killing the thing of today,very few stations are without killings.,blood and guts.They dont seem to realize killing there is no point of return.Very few family oriented movies are on anymore.And most households both parants work
02:13 PM on 03/14/2012
I know that no one condones his actions, but people are trying to understand why. what would make a person do such a terrible thing?
I too was targeted by bullies in school and I am 56 years old and can stll remember the hurt and embarassment I was subjected to. One guy in particular made my high school life so miserable that I dreaded going to school every day. I tried every way I knew to avoid him but he would stalk me just to hurt me. I tried telling teachers and they said "Oh just ignore him and he will stop" but he never did. If he could get a cheap laugh from classmates at my expense he did it. It got so bad I eventually quit which probably ruined my life..It never crossed my mind to kill him but that was before our society was the violent place it is now. Teachers and authority figures should give more attention to bullies and their actions, I wonder if they really realize how much the victim suffers. I have been out of school for 35 years and to this day I refuse to go to class reunions and functions...Believe me the hurt these bullies cause can afftect the victime for a lifetime.
10:35 AM on 03/02/2012
My 7-year-old son is a very bright,sensitive, "different" child with a big heart.He loves anything to do with science/math, is very creative and loves to build and "invent" things. For months now, a boy on his bus relentlessly teases and picks on him. He has told the bus driver about this, and nothing has been done, when in fact it would be easy for the driver to change his seat, as they have assigned seats. He came home one day and was very visibly angry and called this kid his "arch-enemy." His best friend is a girl who lives across the street from us and she says the same things. I spoke with the school's guidance counselor, who said she would talk with the boy and also counsel my son on how to deal with the normal feelings of anger and frustration in a healthy way. Well, two days ago, this boy was at it again, and my son spoke to the bus driver twice on the ride to school, with no results, and my son finally had enough and jumped at the kid, who sits across the isle from him, and "popped" him in the face. I tell my son to ignore him, as eventually he will tire of teasing him if he isn't getting any response. So yes, many times the bullies will incessantly verbally bully/tease a child until that child finally reaches his limit and physically acts out.
08:59 AM on 03/02/2012
The greatest bullying comes against boys due to radical feminist ideology which labels them as potential rapists, and has no boys only activities except sports. Girls are promoted but boys are held in suspicion. T. V. programs portray men and boy as objects of scorn and violence against men by their wives on sitcoms is rampant. Oprah and Ga Ga ought to draw attention to this as a source of bullying as well as the obvious local ones. National policy is clearly against men. If it was wrong for men to subjugate women in the past, than it is just as wrong for national policy to be promoting it. Just more cronyism. We need more investigation of this practice.
05:50 AM on 03/02/2012
I wrote an article about High School bullying titled "The Last To Be Chosen." Everyone should read this post, whether you are an adult or a student, whether you are a bully or a victim of bullying.

I have posted the article on TheAlaridaJourney DOT COM. Once again, it is titled "The Last to be Chosen." It is a timely article, and culturally relevant.
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William A
Oh Lord, save me from your followers!
05:19 AM on 03/02/2012
You torture and bully someone, and they will either rise above it, be broken, or eventually push back. Except when they do they are extremely volatile and likely to use firearms...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wbill1026
what a wonderful world
03:48 AM on 03/02/2012
Bullying has become epidemic here.it should be a felony and carry serious consequences.bullied people and out casts are scarred for life.there is absolutely NO justification for for bullying.
02:24 AM on 03/02/2012
I haven't heard if this kid was on anti-depressants, but most every school shooter is. Check out a site called ssristories.com It lists 4800 cases, sorted by school shootings, soldier cases and 11 other categories. I think that these meds are the main reason why people are so willing to kill other people these days.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
arnibah
02:23 AM on 03/02/2012
If in fact he killed a bully,then the bully had it coming.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
arnibah
02:07 AM on 03/02/2012
This is 1 of the results of kicking God out of the classroom.It is also the result of false religion being taught and accepted.